I've also extended the rig functionality to automatically rip firmware from a modem when the SDcard does not have the required "firmware.bin" file present.

Ideally you'd rip both image0 and image1 in this situation, I think..

Yup. The auto-ripper actually saves three files: all.bin, fw1.bin, and fw2.bin. The "all.bin" is a full 4MB image of the entire flash chip, so that it can be restored to pristine state later on if something gets messed up (used that already!).

Today I soldered up a version of the flashing rig, for use by a third-party who were nice enough to swap a modem for it. With everything soldered down, and some hot melt on the clip connectors, it might even stay together for a while.

+1 double awesome!! That looks like the kind of creation I'd make. Is it home programmed as well, or do you have some kind of pre-programmed firmware for it?

Thanks. It most definitely is "me-programmed" as well, but using the Arduino development tools and libraries.

The fancy blue sub-module is a $3 pre-fab unit off eBay (China). But I just need only the physical card slot from it, and not all of the other stuff. So the built-in 3.3V regulator there is unused, as there's a larger 3.3V regulator on the main board.

The fancy blue sub-module is a $3 pre-fab unit off eBay (China). But I just need only the physical card slot from it, and not all of the other stuff. So the built-in 3.3V regulator there is unused, as there's a larger 3.3V regulator on the main board.

Speaking of which.. I noticed the main regulator getting unusually hot (thus the heatsink). Today I delved into this some more, and discovered it being due to some interaction with the one on the blue sub-module. So I removed the (unused) regulator from the sub-module, and power consumption is now 1/10th of what it was before. Much better.

I like the new soldered-up flashing rig so much, that on Sunday I made a second one for myself. Heh heh.. now that it's all so "finished" looking, I'll probably never have another person drop by in need of it!

But I can always re-purpose it as a data-logging rig if need be, and I definitely have uses for those from time to time. The extra header on Rig #2 (top edge) is for the main serial port, so I can reprogram it "in-circuit" when needed, but also for logging serial data from a server (needs external level conversion). And there are enough free "holes" in the perfboard to add a couple more I/O headers for temperature monitors or similar.

Yes, the generic clips were from dx.com (DealExtreme). I did manage to use them to flash a couple of modems, but the tips on them are about 2X the size of the XKM grabbbers, making it quite difficult to attach them to adjacent pins. And they simply won't fit underneath the DCM-475 heatsinks.

I can give you a handful of them when I return your modems, if you want.They do make excellent clips for everything except the modems!